Dive Brief:
- The Food Marketing Institute and House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway hosted a reception on Capitol Hill Wednesday night to honor retailers and manufacturers highlighting mealtime for consumers as part of the National Family Meals Month campaign.
- Gold Plate Award-winning retailers included Acme Fresh Market, Price Chopper, and Ahold USA, while Mars was a celebrated manufacturer.
- A representative from each company received an honorary plate.
Dive Insight:
"I think it's just a confirmation of what we're trying to do," said Shirley Axe, health and wellness manager at Ahold USA on what the award means for the retailer. "We've listened to the customers." Ahold's Savory: Fast, Fresh and Easy program gives "recipe resources, budget friendly tips and coupons, and time-saving solutions to help customers make easy-to-prepare family meals every day," according to a news release.
However, the real star of the event was Mitty, an oven mitt mascot that was the life of the party, partaking in many photo ops.
At an event with a giant oven mitt. @FMI_ORG pic.twitter.com/tYLxc9rR7N
— David Oliver (@davidolivereats) September 9, 2015